CAPE TOWN CREATIVITY

Back from Cape Town and WHAT an amazing trip.  Binky, my wonderful hostess, had my bedroom ready and waiting, the clothing I leave there all freshly washed and ironed, new satellite TV installed (which, as those of you who know me well will be surprised to hear I didn't watch once (didn't have time!)) and she was bursting with her usual enthusiasm for my projects, her projects and anything inbetween.

This was a particularly satisfying trip in that as well as finding more lovely jewellery to sell in the shop this coming year, I have succeeded in making the link between my clothing designs and some of the beautiful work coming out of Cape Town.  The first great news I had on arrival was that Binky has assembled a group of knitters/crocheters; I have wanted to get my knitwear made in Cape Town ever since I went there the first time, and now Binky has made it happen.  Teresa, Francina and Claudette are refugees from Rwanda; they knit, crochet, bead, weave.  So clever.

From L to R : Teresa, Claudette and Francina

We spent several days together working on my designs as well as brainstorming projects for Binky, and here are some of the results. Beautiful handknitted pieces, no two the same.

I wore them around while I was there and got a great reception, so that led me to thinking that I might be able to market my knitwear designs in South Africa.  To this end, Binky put me in touch with Helon Melon, a well know Cape Town designer, and we are in full collaboration mode as I write.  Between South Africa and France I should be able to keep at least one of the knitters in full time work; that's my goal anyway.  

Second project dear to my heart:  I met up with Stephanie from Krafthaus and she is going to make and supply me with handmade felted woollen edgings for my coats, dresses and who knows what else!  Watch out for the results in my Winter 2012 range. This is one of her gorgeous creations, just to give you some idea how lovely her work is.

And finally, I shall be using the beautiful fine crochet work produced by Projekt as decoration on my dresses.  Doesn't this look wonderful?  Peta Becker runs the group which provides income to more than 28 women from Imizamo Yethu, (the informal settlement in Hout Bay, Cape Town). Working with 100% cotton, they focus on providing excellent contemporary design.

And then there are the fabrics I've brought back for the 2012 collection ....

And some of the jewellery ...

So you see, it was HUGE success!

PACKING AWAY ANOTHER YEAR

I have just finished the last item for my Spring/Summer Collection 2012 and so am ready to close the shop tomorrow for a well earned holiday and travel period until Feb 20th.  It's been a great year; best ever sales, super duper new website, learning curves and new experiences.  I'm REALLY looking forward to this break, but am very excited about next season's collection;  lots of colour (quite a change for me) and new fabric types.  The photoshoot is organised for March 6th and the collection should be online by end March latest.

I've spent the last couple of days planning my annual trip in January to Cape Town, in South Africa.  It's my fourth trip and it's such a nice feeling to be going back. I stay with my Capetonian friend Binky and it is home from home.  Binky runs her own business too (www.designafrika.co.za) and from the moment I arrive we are brainstorming and enthusing about more or less everything.   I just love the creativity and enthusiasm I find in Cape Town ... it is literally exploding with ideas and positivity, despite, or maybe because of, the obvious problems.  Spending time out there has really changed the way I look at the world and is always inspiring.

And then to India!  My first trip, to New Delhi, which although isn't the production centre for fabrics, is where I will find the best collection in one place, will be in February.  I saw some Indian silk when I was in Cape Town last time which just shattered all my preconceived ideas about Indian designs and so I just had to go and see for myself.  I am getting more and more excited about this visit and will almost certainly be writing about it here.

Kicking off my travels will be a week over Christmas in the UK catching up with family (and sleep)  then back to France for another wonderful week's couture workshop with my guru, the talented Yvon Chevalier.  Haute Couture trained, he is a bundle of energy, enthusiasm and technical knowledge that leaves me reeling each time we work together.  What a great way to start 2012 ... I shall arrive on the 1st Jan, champagne chilled and ready, scissors and sketches in hand.  Once I'm back from India I just have time to fit in another week in the UK, with my kids this time, for another family week, then it'll be back to the workshop and full steam ahead with S/S 2012 on Feb 20th.

So all that remains is to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the best of New Years.  If it's anything like this year it's going to be amazing!

Bits and Bobs

Autumn just doesn't seem to want to come ... we are basking in 31 degrees in mid October, and while it's always lovely to have the sun, it isn't much good for reminding prospective customers that they will be needing a new cashmere coat! But no complaints from this designer; this has been the best year ever for sales, so a big thank you to all my customers.
The new website is up and showing my basic range, but as you know, I am always making extra bits and bobs so here are a few photos to entice you ...

A hand knitted chunky sweater in organic Alpaca yarn, (yarn from Esgyrn Guanaco http://www.guanacosales.com)

A really fun jersey print; looks great over black trousers or white jeans

Colour variations of my little cropped unstructured jacket

And last, but definitely not least, a jacket that I made from some genuine 60's fabric given to me by my Aunt. So lovely I have just had to keep it for myself!

BEVERLY SMART now available in Paris

I am very happy to announce that you can now buy the Beverly Smart collection in Paris. How exciting!

Je suis ravie d'annoncer que vous pouvez maintenant acheter la collection Beverly Smart à Paris. Quelle bonne nouvelle!

Juliette Ozouf
20 rue de l'Echaudé
75006 Paris

Tel: 01 43 29 74 51


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Fashion Shoot Autumn/Winter 2011

Wow, what a day yesterday. Much juggling of dates to unite 7 busy women to coordinate this season's photoshoot which ended in the most amazing shots and a day full of fun and laughs. Last week I went over to the Abbey here in Lagrasse with Kate McLean, Graphic Designer/Photographer extraodinaire, to help me choose a location. We fell in love with the little cloister and monks dormitory and Perrine, the abbey guide, was immensely helpful in helping me get the necessary permission from the powers that be. Once the location was found my stress levels descended to 'manageable' and my brain shifted into organisational mode and everything fell into place. I was SO much more organised this time than for summer 2011 (my first real photoshoot). I had the wonderful Caroline Janzen-Quigley as dresser and chief assistant which freed me up to be out with the photographers Seren & Dawn Stoloff. Heidi Komarek-Freysinet was super model and make up artist, with the very talented Myriam Favorito doing hair. And not forgetting my two other models Fronza Woods, bringing a serene and regal look to the clothes and Joelle Chauvet-Smart, my daughter, whose youth and just 'being'-ness gave the clothes yet another personality.

The professional shots are for another time, but here are some of my snaps through the day.

Well, it’s been a long time since my last entry, and for good reason. I’ve been selling one house and moving into another, which as we all know is one of the three most stressful things one can experience. I confirm.

On the “amazed” side is the fact I sold my house in precisely 4 weeks from signing the contract to completion, and moved out in 2 (of those 4). Unbelievable. That’s what happens when you sell to a banker. Yet another of their extraordinary benefits would seem to be pushing their loan application through in a couple of days.

On the “I don’t believe it” side (though would be better titled “should’ve known better”) my ex breaking into the house and stealing radiators, saying he’d clear the house, then leaving it full of stuff, and generally behaving very badly; the bank sending me into a total panic by taking €11000 more than they should have in penalty charges, later to be admitted as a mistake and reimbursed. But it’s all done and dusted now and the page is turned. A serene and tranquil life stretches out ahead of me now, oh bliss.

It’s interesting moving from 280 square meters to 70. It involved very therapeutic and very radical throwing out, which wasn’t anywhere near as painful as I had feared, in fact quite the opposite; I was quite amazed at all the junk that I’d been dragging around with me all this time, for reasons I couldn’t begin to explain or even fathom. Key trinkets, that I loved, but could not find room for became presents for appreciative friends. Various bits of furniture were despatched to new homes, and a lot went to Emmaus (bit like Oxfam), in particular a huge chunk of my wardrobe, which has gone from 5 linear meters to 1! Now that IS radical! Of course, now I’m constantly looking for an article of clothing that I realise that I’ve given away.

In my new compact apartment, instead of having to waste time walking through a huge house and climb the stairs, I can now call my kids to dinner without even raising my voice. I get to hear them giggling together in sibling collusion, something I missed when I was a floor below them and which warms my heart. Everything takes much less time … setting the table for dinner with only 1 metre between the cutlery drawer and dinner table, instead of 4. Sounds not much but I’m telling you, all those extra seconds saved are going on much more interesting projects! I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, but I feel more at home here than I think I ever have anywhere. It looks just how I want it, no style compromises with anyone, and I am in control of my own domain. Peace at last.

To speedo or not to speedo

Well now I've seen it all. A British waterpark has banned Speedos, and is even considering introducing mandatory bikini waxing for men, in a bid to "prevent unsightly hair being on display". What is it with the Anglo-Saxons and bodies? For goodness sake, what a bunch of prudes. It's the same over the Atlantic where, when I was there last week, I was taken aback to find huge billboard adverts proclaiming the sale of bras that definitely won't show your nipples. Why stop there? Why not sell bras that flatten your chest completely so we all look like girls (well, I'm already there) and trusses to hide mens bits too? What is going on? Are we all to be turned into Ken & Barbie, completely sexless?

In our local swimming pool (in France) men are ONLY allowed to wear Speedo type trunks, and those horrendous bermuda short, or rather long, things are banned, as guys have been coming in swimming in their day wear. And they all, for the most part, look very nice in them, thank you very much (and to the comments about the beer guts etc, well they look revolting whatever they're wearing, clothed or unclothed). Will we ban athletes and swimmers from wearing their most revealing kit? If we do, then I for one will stop watching ... it's a real treat to see the human body at its most magnificent. And as for missing out on Daniel Craig wearing his, well don't even start me off on that one ....

PS. Bring back cod pieces, that's what I say; mind you, they'd just be padding those out too.